Smokers in public places will be denounced via mobile apps

A representative of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, the Ministry of Health, on the morning of May 6, said that the main function of the application is to reflect violations of regulations on smoking in public places, such as name, address and Violating establishments… Authorities will receive information through the application and verify and handle.

Vn0khoithuoc is developed on two operating systems iOS and Android for people to conveniently install and use. This application is part of the project Strengthen the enforcement of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control through piloting a model of community participation. The two districts of Tay Ho and Hoan Kiem have piloted starting today, lasting 6 to 9 months.

According to a representative of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, Vietnam has made efforts to raise public awareness of tobacco harms and build a smoke-free environment since 2001. In the period from 2015 to 2020, the rate of use general tobacco decreased; the smoking rate at school age decreased by more than 2% compared to the period 2013-2019, to 2.78% in 2019.

However, there are still many difficulties in tobacco control, mainly due to the emergence of many new tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes, unheated, shisha, sold in many places, and easily accessible. Besides, many people have not adhered to “no smoking” when in a smoke-free place. Smoking rates have decreased but remain high.

Hanoi, Khanh Hoa and Ho Chi Minh City are the three provinces and cities with the highest percentage of adult smokers, at nearly 8%, 6% and more than 5%, respectively. This is the basis for the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund to build the Vn0khoithuoc application. The Ministry of Health hopes to increase the effectiveness of implementing a smoke-free environment, taking advantage of the community’s power to detect violations of tobacco harm control.

Some countries like Indonesia, Pakistan, China, India, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, have built similar apps. Some studies have suggested that mobile applications help increase public awareness of tobacco harms prevention violations; suitable in cities, urban areas, suitable for young groups.

According to research documents, cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 harmful substances, causing about 25 diseases for users such as cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive health effects, emphysema, hair loss. hair, seriously affecting the health of pregnant women and children.

Vietnam has applied the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms since 2012, which completely bans smoking in the homes and premises of medical, educational, care, nurturing, entertainment and recreational facilities for children. children, facilities or areas at risk of explosion, workplaces, universities, colleges, academies and public transport such as cars, planes, trains…

Clause 1, Article 25 of Decree 117 in 2020 prescribes warnings or fines from 200,000 VND to 500,000 VND for smokers at places where smoking is prohibited. Those who smoke on board will be sanctioned for administrative violations in the field of civil aviation.

Chile